Photos: Greek austerity strikes

Nikolas Giakoumidis, AP01.31.2013

A woman and a dog pass across the rail tracks in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki, during a 24-hour strike Jan. 31. Workers have been protesting planned reforms to the pension and income contribution system, part of the latest spending cuts in the bailout program.

Nikolas Giakoumidis
/ AP

People sit at the empty railway station in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki, during a 24-hour strike Jan. 31. The government has imposed waves of spending cuts and tax hikes, leading to severe salary and pension cuts and leaving unemployment spiralling to above 26 per cent.Nikolas Giakoumidis
/ AP

Buses are parked at the Athens’ depot during a strike on Jan. 31. Sailors kicked off a two-day walkout, buses and trains were at a standstill and civil servants planned to hold a three-hour work stoppage against the government’s cutbacks.ARIS MESSINIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Striking public hospital doctors and health staff march in central Athens on Jan. 31 during their 24-hours strike. Greek trains and ferries ground to a halt and hospital staffing was cut to a minimum as transport workers and doctors went on strike to protest austerity measures demanded by the country’s foreign lenders.LOUISA GOULIAMAKI
/ AFP/Getty Images

A man walks at the empty railway station in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki, during a 24-hour strike Jan. 31. Workers have been protesting planned reforms to the pension and income contribution system, part of the latest spending cuts in the bailout program.Nikolas Giakoumidis
/ AP

Athens metro employees march in central Athens with T-shirts reading “civil-mobilized” on Jan. 31 during a three-hour public-sector work stoppage to support the transport and doctors strike against government cutbacks.LOUISA GOULIAMAKI
/ AFP/Getty Images

A protester affiliated with the Communist Party takes part in a protest at the entrance of a courthouse in Athens Jan. 31.Kostas Tsironis
/ AP

A health sector employee stands in front of the Greek Parliament during a protest in Athens on Jan. 31. Hospital doctors and ambulance workers were on strike for the day.Thanassis Stavrakis
/ AP

A man makes his way through rail tracks during a 48-hour train strike in Athens on Jan. 31, 2013. Greek trains and ferries ground to a halt and hospital staffing was cut to a minimum as transport workers and doctors went on strike to protest austerity measures demanded by the country’s foreign lenders.LOUISA GOULIAMAKI
/ AFP/Getty Images

Music students protest in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki on Jan. 30. Students from special-curricula state schools staged the protest against government cuts that have left them without transport and staff shortage.Nikolas Giakoumidis
/ AP

Protesters affiliated with the Communist Party shout slogans at the entrance of a courthouse in Athens Jan. 31. On Wednesday, protesters from a communist-backed union forced their way into the Labor Ministry, leading to the arrest of about 35 protesters and clashes with riot police.Kostas Tsironis
/ AP

A man sits at the passengers area of the port of Piraeus, near Athens, during a 48-hours strike on Jan. 31. Sailors kicked off a two-day walkout, buses and trains were at a standstill and civil servants planned to hold a three-hour work stoppage against the government’s cutbacks.ARIS MESSINIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

A ferry crew member stands at the ramp of a docked ferry at the port of Piraeus, near Athens, during a 48-hours strike on Jan. 31, 2013.ARIS MESSINIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Greek schoolchildren protest in Thessaloniki against education budget cuts on Jan. 30. With drums and guitars, students of public music high schools launched a protest against the cancellation of their transportation to schools and education budget cuts.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Greek schoolchildren protest in Thessaloniki against education budget cuts on Jan. 30. Greece has been gripped by a severe financial crisis since late 2009.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Students from special-curricula state schools staged the protest Jan. 30 against government cuts that have left them without transport and staff shortage.Nikolas Giakoumidis
/ AP

A man stands in front of a docked ferry at the port of Piraeus, near Athens, during a 48-hours strike on Jan. 31. Sailors kicked off a two-day walkout, buses and trains were at a standstill.ARIS MESSINIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Health sector employees protest in front of the Ministry of Health in Athens Jan. 31. The government has imposed waves of spending cuts and tax hikes, leading to severe salary and pension cuts and leaving unemployment spiralling to above 26 per cent.Kostas Tsironis
/ AP

Trolley buses are parked at a depot in the port of Piraeus, near Athens during a 24-hour strike Jan. 31. Workers have been protesting against planned reforms to the pension and income contribution system, part of the latest spending cuts in the bailout program.Thanassis Stavrakis
/ AP

Music students shout slogans during a protest in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki on Jan. 30. Students from special-curricula state schools staged the protest against government cuts that have left them without transport and staff shortage.Nikolas Giakoumidis
/ AP

A woman walks outside the Labour Ministry guarded by riot police in Athens on Jan. 30. Police were called in on Wednesday to dislodge around 30 Communist unionists from the labour ministry in a protest against new pension cut plans.ARIS MESSINIS
/ AFP/Getty Images